Heavy compression, greater than body weight, is thought to facilitate what at the joint under compression?

Heavy compression, greater than body weight, is thought to facilitate what at the joint under compression?

• A. Inhibit spasticity
• B. Co-contraction at the joint under compression
• C. Increase range of motion
• D. Decrease muscle tone

Answer: (B)

Heavy compression provides strong proprioceptive input from the joint, which the nervous system uses to organize movement around that joint. This input promotes co-contraction, meaning the agonist and antagonist around the joint fire together to create joint stiffness and stability. That stiffness helps control and stabilize posture during weight-bearing tasks, making movement more coordinated. This effect isn’t about directly reducing spasticity, increasing passive range of motion, or lowering overall muscle tone. Instead, the heavy compression encourages a stable, cocontracting pattern around the joint to support controlled movement under load.

Heavy compression provides strong proprioceptive input from the joint, which the nervous system uses to organize movement around that joint. This input promotes co-contraction, meaning the agonist and antagonist around the joint fire together to create joint stiffness and stability. That stiffness helps control and stabilize posture during weight-bearing tasks, making movement more coordinated.

This effect isn’t about directly reducing spasticity, increasing passive range of motion, or lowering overall muscle tone. Instead, the heavy compression encourages a stable, cocontracting pattern around the joint to support controlled movement under load.